Knowledge, Attitude, Practice (KAP) Studies on the Antibiotic Usage Pattern among Patients and Caregivers in Outpatient Pharmacy, Sibu Hospital

Introduction: The spread of antibiotic resistance as a result of inappropriate antibiotic use has emerged as a growing problem globally. Substantial evidence has shown that general public played a pivotal role in the increase and spread of antibiotic resistance. Objective: To assess the KAP of local public towards antibiotic use. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed using a validated questionnaire on a sample of 318 randomly selected individuals among the patients and caregivers in Outpatient Pharmacy Department (OPD) of Sibu Hospital. The KAP on antibiotic usage pattern of these individuals were studied. Results: Nearly half of the respondents (42.1%) claimed that they have been prescribed with antibiotics within the past 12 months from the study period, and 25.2% of them did not finish the antibiotic course. Up to 46.8% of the respondents incorrectly thought that antibiotics can be used against virus. Majority of them correctly agreed on the statements related to antibiotic side effects and resistance. More than half of the respondents expressed positive attitude on antibiotic usage and almost all agreed that pharmacists and doctors often tell them how antibiotics should be used. They also trust the doctors' decision on antibiotic prescribing. Discussion / Conclusion: Despite serious antibiotic misconception, our outpatient respondents generally displayed high trust to doctors’ antibiotic prescribing, good treatment compliancy and low rate of antibiotic self-medication. Ministry of Health can work hand in hand with Ministry of Education to instil antibiotic  knowledge into our future generations while doctors and pharmacists can educate the existing patients on the rationale and importance of proper antibiotic usage. Empowering patients help to change attitudes and behaviour on antibiotic usage. This, in turn, may help to control the development and spread of antibiotic resistance.